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60K Mile Survivor: 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

It’s rare to extract a barn find that emerges from storage in outstanding condition. That’s the perils of a barn find: yes, it will be virgin and untouched, and that’s great (or at least untouched for the last few years) – but it’s still, typically, a very needy vehicle that is far from road-ready. In the case of this 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the seller calls it a barn find but I suspect it’s closer to being a vehicle that was stored in a garage and sparingly used. The Autocheck report indicates it has lived predominantly in Florida and Georgia before making its way to Nevada where the seller is based, and it’s said to have just 61,000 original miles. Find it here on eBay with bids to $23,100 and no reserve.

The history of this Grand Wagoneer reminds me very much of a car I recently bought. It was in the same family ownership for many years and racked up barely any miles in that time. You could call it a barn find as it had been in the deceased father’s garage for eons, but was still driven weekly by the son. The registration changed several times to different members of the family, but it still stayed at the same address for all those years. The Grand Wagoneer is also the kind of vehicle that does tend to stay in a family for eons, especially as sons and daughters and then grandchildren all ask for their chance to own it.

This is pure speculation on my part, but the Grand Wagoneer has a following for a reason. It’s iconic, and it does a lot of things well. It can be a daily driver if you live somewhere that it doesn’t snow or salt doesn’t cover the roads (those body panels are fragile) and it can haul quite a bit of stuff in addition to actual passengers. It’s comfy as heck and just crosses over the cut-off between being too old to be driven often and just old enough that it’s shortcomings are charming. The seller’s Wagoneer is in outstanding condition, and while I doubt they had anything to do with it, the caretakers from Florida and Georgia clearly loved this old girl. The wood trim looks to be in great shape, as does the upholstery, door panels, and carpeting.

The engine bay isn’t overly detailed; it simply looks used, but also not neglected. The seller claims it runs and drives well with no leaks or smoking, as it should for a low-mileage example of one of the more overbuilt engines Jeep ever produced. The seller notes there is a crack in the dash and that the wood paneling should be replaced if you’re seeking perfection, but it looks perfectly fine to me as-is. The power windows work and four-wheel drive engage as it should, so this seems to essentially be a turnkey classic. While you could daily it, I’m not sure I’d want to unless I lived in an idyllic climate free of tourists and an abundance of distracted drivers; if you find such a place, please send me the address.

Comments

  1. Avatar James Maugham

    There is no “wood” in the interior or exterior trim.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar t-bone BOB

    Ended: Jan 27, 2022 , 3:46PM
    Winning bid:US $30,256.78
    [ 51 bids ]

    Located in:Las Vegas, Nevada

    Like 0
  3. Avatar FordFixer Member

    Had a few of these in the 70’s. All used (couldn’t afford new?) great for NM, Colorado roads. wish I had one now. But, the wife prefers new Subarus, so ???

    Like 2

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